[2] Muldoon loyalist Bill Birch commented to media, "The whole thing needs to be considered very carefully, and the leadership decision needs to be dealt with at the appropriate time outside the shadow of a defeat at the election.

He was regarded as socially liberal and free-market friendly, and had been installed as Muldoon's deputy earlier that year in an attempt to balance the leadership.

[6] McLay was a distinct contrast to Muldoon, he promoted free market economic policies and possessed a relatively liberal social outlook.

Indeed, he had been elected deputy due to his difference to Muldoon and building on this campaigned on winning back support from urban liberals and youth voters.

[7] McLay had flirted with the prospect of the party leadership earlier in the year following Muldoon's refusal to act in accordance with the incoming governments wishes which triggered a constitutional crisis.

However, the mood for change within National's ranks became overbearing and forced a vote, though Muldoon still stood for the leadership, although he later admitted that he too felt he would lose.

The relationship between the two bottomed out when Muldoon criticised the entire party leadership, forcing McLay to demote him to the lowest rank in the National caucus.